title: Antibacterial activity of some bryophytes used traditionally for the treatment of burn infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plagiochasma appendiculatum L. & L. (Aytoniaceae), Conocephalum conicum (L.) Necker (Conocephalaceae), Bryum argenteum Hedw. (Bryaceae), and Mnium marginatum (With.) P. Beauv. (Mniaceae) are bryophytes (liverworts and mosses) used by traditional healers for the treatment of burn, cuts, wounds, and skin disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of four bryophytes against some common bacteria responsible for burn infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different fractions of bryophytes were screened using the disc diffusion (qualitative) and broth microdilution (quantitative) methods, according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical and Laboratory Standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chloroform fractions of liverworts were more active against Gram negative strains while butanol fractions of mosses had significant activity against Gram positive bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive strain of those tested with the butanol fraction of M. marginatum (moss), with the strongest inhibition zone of 102.92% and minimum inhibitory concentration of 30 μg mL(-1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the use of the bryophytes in traditional medicine for burn infections because of their significant antibacterial activity.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Virendra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Ajay Kumar Singh
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rawat
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044002:Bryophyta; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D035926:Hepatophyta; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts